9.  A fine and complete c. 1860 antique amputation set by J.H. Gemrig, Philadelphia.  An unusual feature of the set is that it contains both circular and flap amputation knives.

  10.  A very fine solid gold, silver gilt, and enameled Civil War 20th Corps badge with the emblem of the State of Connecticut and the 5th Connecticut Volunteers.  The bar is inscribed in block letters:  SURGEON J.B. LEWIS.  The reverse of the star-shaped Civil War medal is further hand-engraved in a following script the battle honors:  Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Culp's Farm, Lost Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Silver Run, Bentonville.

Doctor John Benjamin Lewis (1832-1914) was from Hartford and an 1853 graduate of New York University Medical College, New York.  He served in the Civil War as Surgeon to the 5th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry from July 1861 April 1862.  On 4 April 1862, he was appointed a Brigade Surgeon U.S. Volunteers.  He was brevetted a Lieutenant Colonel on 1 October 1865, then mustered-out 6 days later.  He held several important Medical Department positions, including head of the army hospitals at Frederick City, Maryland, and at Cumberland, Maryland.

For a more complete biography of Doctor Lewis, please click here.

Matching with the above medal is Lewis' gold-plated Knights Templar medal that features a bust of President Washington and Connecticut references.

 11.   A very rare and important Murphy's anesthesia inhaler.  This antique chloroform inhalation apparatus was introduced in 1848 by Edward William Murphy, M.D. (1802-1877), of London.  Note the sponge chamber with simple  leather flap air intake (on the cap) and exhaust valves.  A reference from 1856 states that the inhaler was offered in brass at 6s/6d, or if plated, 12s/6d.  This example is the plated instrument.  The exact instrument is illustrated and captioned in the Weiss surgical instrument catalogue of 1863.  See Weiss 1863, pl. XLI, fig. 4.  First generation inhalers, such as this example, are exceedingly scarce instruments. 

  12.    A very rare c. 1850 antique mouth speculum marked: CHARRIERE.  The mechanical movement of the speculum oris is ingenious.  A set-screw holds the blades at the desired diameter.  Charriere, of Paris, was one of the finest of the 19th century French instrument makers.  The name of the company changed, c. 1866, to Robert et Collin.  This is the first example of this particular instrument encountered by this dealer.  SOLD

  13.  An exceedingly scarce model 1832 United States Army Medical Staff sword marked within a banner: N.P. Ames / Cutler Springfield [Massachusetts]. Mid-way on one side of the blade is the etched bust profile of a bearded man who is labeled in script: Esculapius. This refers to the Greek god of medicine and healing. Other etchings on the blade include a wreath surrounding the letters U.S., an eagle, floral sprays, crossed swords, a panoply, and a standing figure of Liberty. The fancy brass hilt retains 95% of its original gilt. The leather scabbard is in magnificent condition. It has a long brass throat with frog and a very long (12 inches) brass drag. Both are elaborately hand-engraved with floral designs and retain 95%+ of the original gilt. Peterson describes the sword as exceptionally rare. It is estimated that only a few such swords were ever made during the period of 1832 to 1840 when this was the regulation sword for the Medical Staff. See Peterson, pp. 138-139, number 123. Also, see Hamilton, p. 44. This very sword is featured in John Thillmann's book on United States staff officer's swords, 1832-1860. 

  14.  A very rare c. 1800 antique bloodletting spring lancet with brass body engraved with a scene of a medicinal leech.  The unusual instrument comes with its original case.